Recording electrode with improved base film for high quality image recording

Abstract

To provide a recording apparatus that is capable of recording high quality images free from density unevenness, a recording electrode used in the recording apparatus is formed from an electrically insulating base film formed with a plurality of apertures, and control electrodes formed on the front surface of the base film to surround each of the plurality of apertures. To obtain the base film which is not likely to be scratched or wrinkled, a product of the modulus of elasticity of the base film and the thickness thereof to the third power needs to be more than 0.008 kg·mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A recording electrode, comprising: a base film made from an electrically insulating material, and having a thickness t and a modulus of elasticity E;   at least one aperture formed in said base film;   a control electrode formed on an upper surface of said base film to surround said at least one aperture, said control electrode receiving a control voltage for selectively producing an electric field that attracts charged toner particles,   wherein a product of E×t 3  is more than 0.008 kg mm.   
     
     
       2. The recording electrode according to claim 1, wherein the product of E×t 3  is approximately 0.014 kg mm. 
     
     
       3. The recording electrode according to claim 1, wherein the modulus of elasticity of said base film is more than 512 kg/m 2  and the thickness of the base film is 25 μm. 
     
     
       4. The recording electrode according to claim 3, wherein said control electrode is 8 μm thickness. 
     
     
       5. The recording electrode according to claim 3, wherein said base film is made from a high molecular resin. 
     
     
       6. The recording electrode according to claim 5, wherein said base film is made from polyimide. 
     
     
       7. The recording electrode according to claim 5, wherein said base film is made from aromatic polyamide. 
     
     
       8. A recording electrode, comprising: a base film formed with a plurality of apertures, said base film being made from an electrically insulating material, and having a thickness t and a modulus of elasticity E; and   a plurality of control electrodes formed on said base film, a control electrode surrounding each aperture of the plurality of apertures, said plurality of control electrodes controlling passage of charged toner particles through the plurality of apertures,   wherein a product of E×t 3  is more than 0.008 kg mm.   
     
     
       9. The recording electrode according to claim 8, wherein the product of E×t 3  is approximately 0.014 kg mm. 
     
     
       10. The recording electrode according to claim 8, wherein the modulus of elasticity of said base film is more than 512 kg/m 2  and the thickness of the base film is 25 μm. 
     
     
       11. The recording electrode according to claim 10, wherein said control electrodes have a 8 μm thickness. 
     
     
       12. The recording electrode according to claim 10, wherein said base film is made from a high molecular resin. 
     
     
       13. The recording electrode according to claim 12, wherein said base film is made from polyimide. 
     
     
       14. The recording electrode according to claim 12, wherein said base film is made from aromatic polyamide. 
     
     
       15. A recording apparatus for recording images on a recording medium, comprising: toner supplying means for supplying charged toner particles;   a back electrode;   a power source for applying a voltage to said back electrode to produce an electric field capable of attracting charged toner particles;   a recording electrode disposed between said toner supplying means and said back electrode and within the electric field produced by applying the voltage to said back electrode,   said recording electrode having a control portion for selectively producing a second electric field that attracts the charged toner particles supplied by said toner supply means, thereby producing a flow of said charged toner particles from said toner supply means toward said back electrode, wherein said recording electrode comprises a base film made from an electrically insulating material, said base film having a thickness t and a modulus of elasticity E wherein a product of E×t 3  is more than 0.008 kg·mm.   
     
     
       16. The recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control portion of said recording electrode is a plurality of control electrodes formed on said base film to surround respective one of a plurality of apertures formed in said base film. 
     
     
       17. The recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control portion of said recording electrode comprises mesh-pattern electrodes. 
     
     
       18. The recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control portion of said recording electrode comprises edge electrodes having edge portions. 
     
     
       19. The recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said toner supply means comprises a drum rotatable about an axis of the drum and the drum having a peripheral surface for bearing the toner particles, and wherein said base film is formed with a plurality of apertures that are aligned in a direction in parallel to the axis of said drum.